Fleckvieh-Vision

Fleckvieh-Vision
Dr. Thomas Grupp
I. Fleckvieh becomes the most important cattle breed for
pure- and crossbreeding
II. Crossings between Fleckvieh and dairy breeds will have a
share of 50% among all cattle in Europe in future to
exploit the advantages of heterosis and to improve the
secondary traits
III. Without a dual purpose breed economically effective dairy
farming will be possible only in a very limited way in the
future
IV. Fleckvieh is the only cattle breed that enables the farmers
to meet the high demands on milk hygiene
V. The technical progress in the stable and last but not least
the introduction of milking robots and standardized
feeding systems (TMR) favours Fleckvieh very much
VI. An economically successful suckler cow production will
be possible only in few places in the future and commer
cial beef herds will have a high percentage of Fleckviehblood
VII. Payment according to the quality of the carcass gets more
important. Good qualities will be paid high, bad qualities
are hard to sell
VIII. Fleckvieh offers family farms a chance to survive
IX. Fleckvieh and Fleckvieh-crossings correspond with the
demands of the consumers for a balanced animal that
does not go for the extremes
X. Bavarian Fleckvieh Genetics owns the breeding nucleus of
a global breed with extraordinary potential - Fleckvieh
Take a share of our superior genetics!

„Traudi“, V: ZEUS
„Traube“, daughter of Traudi, V: STRESS
„Trapez“, daughter of Traube S: RENOLD
➡ ➡
Fleckvieh breed 5
„What is Fleckvieh?“
Dr. Thomas Grupp
Many breeders I talked to repeatedly
asked me the same question: „What is
Fleckvieh?” „Is Montbeliard just another
name for Fleckvieh?” „Why is Simmental
different to Fleckvieh?” „Can you tell me
what Fleckvieh exactly is?”
In order to explain the difference between
Fleckvieh and other Simmental influenced
breeds to you I would first like to give you a
short historic review on how Fleckvieh developed
in the Southern part of Germany.
Starting in 1830 original Simmental cattle
from Switzerland were imported to the Bavarian
Kingdom and to former Austria. The
Simmental cattle were famous for their performance
in milk and labour. These imports
were used to improve local breeds which
were all kept for dual or triple purpose. Beginning
in the 1920ies after the First World
War the economic change took place in
cattle breeding. In Southern Germany the
breeding aims were focused on a „middle
of the road type” animal with excellent
muscling and good milk performance. The
original Simmental cow was late maturing
with less depth and coarse bones. From
this time the herdbook was more or less
closed. Some Swiss original bulls which
express the Fleckvieh type were tested in
the 60ties and the 70ties and also some
Montbeliard bulls but their influence can be
neglected. To improve the udders and the
milk performance a scientific trial was started
in the 70ties. The 50% Red Holstein
bull Redad from Switzerland was introduced
into the Fleckvieh population. His progeny
did very well. He improved not only
the udder quality but also milk and to some
extend beef performance. Today 79% of
the Fleckvieh population has no foreign
blood. 18,5% of the Fleckvieh cows carry
up to 6% foreign genes and 2% carry 6-
12%. The average blood percentage of other
breeds was 1,63% in the year 2000 in
Fleckvieh the whole Fleckvieh population
compared to 0.86% in 1982.
Many breeds have the same colour like
Fleckvieh cattle but they are of a different
type. The type is unique among Fleckvieh
worldwide.
The type of Fleckvieh we are breeding for
is comparable to
● Austrian Fleckvieh
● South African Simmentalers
● Simmental Français
● Razza Pezzata Rossa (Italy)
However the type still differs slightly even
among the Fleckvieh population. Bavarian
Fleckvieh Genetics favours that type of animal,
described in the „Standard of excellence”
published by the Simmentaler Society of
Southern Africa. The only difference is, that
we accept bigger animals – our breeding
aim is 140 cm to 145 cm height at withers.